New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-04
LAKE GEORGE VIEWS.
SUNSET AND SUNRISE FROM PROSPECT
MOUNTAIN.


Dr. Ferguson OF Glens Falls, built house OF enter
talnment upon tho summit, and he prefers to style
Tho elevation Mount Ferguson. Prospect Mountain,
| however, is the older designation and therefore ]
use It. 1t IL not very high mountain; perhaps IL
| does not deserve the term "mountain" at ALL but
| though 1t can claim no than from eighteen
two thousand feet OF elevation, and though
BLACK Mountain the eastern side OF the lake, IL
said TO overtop IT, tho view from Its summit and from
the observatory on the roof OF the Mountain House
which crowns It, is sufficiently extensive, diversified
and picturesque to make the reputation OF far moro
aspiring hill
It lies southwest the village OF Calowoll, which
is almost its base The ascent may be made either
by carriage foot There are two roads supposed
TO be passabe by wheeled vehicles, and no doubt both
NAV BIO used. The expenditure Of good deal OF
money and labor however Is required to bring either
of them to o state which Will render IL other than an
extravaganza to say that they can be travelled Win
comfort They In fact very rough, and equally
hard upon horses. carriages and passengers. Never
theless such IA do not mind brisk 1oiting may, IL
they bayo any Poetry their souls, thoroughly enjoy
a ride UP Prospect Mountain while good walkers VIII
find tho iootpath, somewhat seep, fuli OF natural
beauties 1t must be said for all the roads that they
arc well shaded Tho young growth Of timber which
covers tho mountain sides and testlbcs 10 an e1-
tensiyo confagration many years since, springs
I'D so hlcly both sides Of the roads az ~ cmboWer
them for tho greater part OF their length Inc sun-
light filters down through the leaves. which mako q
brooks tniling and gushing In the gorgcs near by
blends with tho soothing murmur Of the breeze among
the troctops Tho ascent by carriage or wagon,
lcisurely made, occupies about two hours. by the
footpath is much shorter pedestrian In good train
inr having done It In forty minutes Owing to tho
density OF the woods and tho fact that tho neghborng
hills rse within few hundred feet as high az Prospect
Mountain scarcely any view Is obtained Until the summit
is reached, and then the oXtent OF tho landscape
spread out before visitor when he attans to that
eminenco comes as a surprise
Last Thursday afternoon two travellers might have
been observed III there had been any eyes but those
of chipmunks and gray squirrels to notice thcm mailing
the best Of their way up tho mountain with the aid OF
a pair Of strong but gentle gray ponies and an ex-
perenced driver who rested his horses about every
furong, and when they were crawling up the staircase
which passes as q road continually admonished them
with careful !" "Carefui" "Soi Gently NOW
look outl &" "whoai Dacki Bachl" lie said, and APP
,earei TO boevo that the animals understood these
remarks To the travellers they seemed far too In
tegent need any suggestions from the driver, ana
they certainly acted quite Independently OF his advlc
So slow was the ascent and SO rapidly was the light
fading under tho trees the mountain side that tho
travellers began to fear they might DO too late to SEQ
tho sun set But when at O'Clock they emerged on
the bare rocky plateau whereon tho Mountain House
Is oroctod they were at once treasured by tho htei
cenco that from that elevation the sun would be
visible nearly tree-quartes of hour longer. Ono
elevation the mercury stood many oegres lower than
on tho level of Lake George In fact ovorcoats and
wraps had become not merely Indispensable but VI
doubtful adequacyi for brisk northwest breeze oi
about tho double-rcefedtopsan variety, howlod and
whistod tho little hotel, and while not suggest
Ing danger enabled the now arrivals W comprehend
without further inquiry the function OF the stout IRON
rods chains and braces, which passed over the house
and firmly bOlted Into tho rock
whiIe tho evening meal was being prepared the
travellers climbed TO tho observatory on tho rOob
provided with far-reachng marine glasses and teie-
scopes Up the little rallied platform the erect Oh
tho elevation was felt cuhousy. Tho house below Is
small and IL STANDS Oh q narrow table VI rock al
tho very top mountain that the observer has
almost tho sensation Of being In a balloon, and when
the wind blows particularly hard and imIarts slight
rocking motion To building, the instability of tho
situation Is accentuated
In q few moments, however, tho magnifcenco
OF the Wow excluded all other considerations To
tho west tho Adironaack Mountains were spread out
peak after peak, blLovy fold upon fold Right
underneath, and stretching away northward, Like
George lay aiming snycry clear In tho declining
light The atmosphere had been hnguiary lmplo
all day. No haze ObstTuotei the view In any dlrc-
ton Whore the lake pinched In at the Nauows
tho heavily fonaged Islands seemed to swarm 90
thickly that passage between them could not DO dis
corned From tais Wow point Northwest Bay as
sumed an extent and importance unguessed by those
plain was hidden by tho mountains which skirt II.
but In compensation for much cOncealmcnt the
WAte Mountains tho extreme right and the Green
Mountains On the left were exhibited with perfect
dstinctness Turning their backs to tho lako, the
travellers could far champaign country,
sprnkled with villages and small town Glens Falls
was brought TO render almost credible the
story that an observer standing here had once dis
ungushed the position Of the hands the town clock
of that thriving little burgh. But for tho interven
ton of tho flank of Mount McGregor Saratoga would
have been easily visible, and as 1t was, the smoke
Of the place could be rising In the clear air All
this tmo tho sinking and already had dlsap |
peared TO tho people tho lake, though its Hight
stll bathed tho Green and White Mountains and an
Intervening lower range OF hills. The shadows deep
cned the lake All the western shore was now |
taking on a sombro hue and only on Black Mountain |
and Tongue Mountain did tho day still lnger Over
the tumultuous tops of the Adrondacks the play OF
shadow was wonderful Watching the changes Of light |
steadily could almost sec successive films OK dark
ness descend upon tho hills Through these films tho
SUBMITS seemed TO emerge, while the valleys and |
hollow places showed icss and less distinctly. Now |
on tho broad habtatOn-studd plain lights began 20
twinkle pictuesquely and to connteract the Inn
preston OF Feeding warmth and comfort conveyed by
the Withdrawal Of the sunlight. But for these cheer
ing evidences OF human life tho effect Of the masnh-
cent phenomenon would have BEEN despite It's majesty
and beauty distinctly depressing. 1t especially
over the AdrOndaos where tho native wdness Of tho
landscape took On aspect of ghastliness-a kind OF
cosmlo rigor morts-as tho last 0ay-beams left IL |
and twilight, swiftly passing into darkness, settled
coldly down.
And now the eastern heights were lighted only on
their submits, night established tho plains. and
only few moments remained to observe tho sinking OF
tho sun hmseL The sky had been free from cloud
and yapor that until the great luminaTy nearcd tho
horizon his binding brightness had prevented close
observation OF his movements. Just above the furthest
range Of mountains In tho west, however, bank OF
heavy cloud appeared. II prepared to receive the
glowing orb a. upon vaporous cushion. This cloud
hank hung In tho heavens that narrow belt Of
clear space left between its lower edge and the
mountain tops. As the went behind tho clouds
no glorfed them. Tho which Just before had
presented dep dead black suddenly innhratod with
light showed O lustrous purple in IT'S central